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| ViaSat,
Inc. (Nasdaq:VSAT) will provide an upgrade for the satellite
network serving the US Army main tactical situational awareness
system, known as FBCB2-BFT
(follow-on Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below - Blue
Force Tracking).
As part of the upgrade, ViaSat will build a prototype network
and terminals that are designed to increase network capacity
and improve accuracy over the current system. The company was
awarded an initial $9.3 million contract from Northrop Grumman
Corporation (NYSE:NOC), the Army’s system integrator for
FBCB2. ViaSat and the RF Communications Division of Harris Corporation
(NYSE:HRS) have cooperated in winning this effort. Work under
the contract is scheduled to be complete in one year, and production
and delivery of FBCB2-BFT replacement terminals may begin as
early as 2008.
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Current military operations require improvements in BFT network
capacity, accuracy, and operating costs along with expanding
coverage worldwide. The ViaSat approach is based on its ArcLight
spread spectrum technology which can yield significant latency
reduction and increase the number of simultaneous users in high
density operational environments. In addition, the terminal
will be designed to operate in a dual mode that enables it to
use commercial communication satellite resources, on-demand,
in less dense environments.
ViaSat will also provide a prototype network operations center,
upgrading a satellite ground station hub, and development of
new transceiver prototypes for aircraft and land vehicles.
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